For some strange reason my DCC Proto 2000 Soo Engine with sound all of a sudden to quit running.   I get no lights, sound anything when urning it on.   I tried all the addresses on my EZ Command trying to see if for somereason the address changed on me but no luck in getting the engine to respond.    I even tried resetting the address as instructed in the manual but no luck.    My last resort was to use the magic wand hoping it would take care of the issue and set the engine back to factory settings, but again, nothing.

I know it is not a track issue as I am running 5 otherengines on the same trackwith no problems at all.

Any other tips,................figure I will have to send it in to Walthers for a look and repair.

Hope every one had a great Holiday Season out there and got to run their trains a lot.

Larry

Just watched the video nice..........thanks for sharing.   Nice load of cars you guys are pulling there.

Larry

running dcc here and have 2 each of the crossover switches you are talking about.   I have 2 large ovals with a pair of crossovers connecting the 2 ovals where I can switch a train from one oval and back again.   I only need to switch the one switch and not worry about what position the other switch is in at anytime and have had no issues with derailments.   Just make sure that if you swtich from one oval to the other that the other switch is not in a position to take the  train back to the original oval right away

In the area where these switches are located they connected directly to one another and give them impession of a large double crossover.

Larry

Great post and pics.    With the kids, tree and the train around the base.   Brings back a lot of christmas memories tothis 65 yr old.

Best to you and your family.

Larry

I have 2 pairs of the Bachmann EZ Crossover swtiches on my bench.........all DCC and have had little trouble with them    Both ends switch at the same time when activated on the control unit.

On rare occasions sometimes a switch seems to not want to work......................found out that by turning the power off to the control unit and turning it back on rectifies the problem    For some reason the only switch that does this is the one assigned to address 1........................the switches on addresses 2 to 6 have never had this issue.

Larry

I also was looking for a double crossover that was completely assembled and DCC ready........since Bachmann didn't have one I ended up buying 2 single crossovers of theirs and put them together, they work grand

Larry

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions guys.........have my Bachmann uncouplers ordered and will let you know how it turns out when I get them installed.   All uncouplers will be installed on dead end siding tracks in my yard.

Larry

Thanks Reinhard   The wooden skewer method is what I have heard most folks use.   The place where I would be putting the uncouplers would be in a yard.....I have some dead end tracks I want to use to be able to back the train up on and then uncouple the engine from them for the most part.   The magnetic ones may work ok for that purpose as I will not actually be running the train over the coupler while going forward as in a regular straight run.    I may try the magnectic and see how it goes but will probably use the skewer method for other cases.

Larry

Am hoping to find a magnetic uncoupler to use with my DCC and EZ trak with the road bed.    I see Bachmann has one that has a workman included.   Understand this is a magnetic unit that is placed under the EZ trak.   

Was wondering how well it works and how it works.   Anyone out there have one on their bench

Have seen quite a few of these automatic uncouplers, but from what I have read they arn't all that perfected...........most folks prefer uncoupling by hand with a wooden rod sharpened to a point and by other various methods.


Larry

will have to look under the short piece that came with the switches.   didn't realize that

still would think Bachmann could have designed them different.

Also I have noticed on their sections of track that some sizes have predrilled holes to mount the track on the bench while other curve sections dont  this is strange to me as to why they don't put mounting holes on all their sizes..........course I can understand them not putting them on the short pieces.    But why put them on a 22 in radius track and not on a 18 in. piece...................also many times the holes are not completely drilled thru.

Larry

I recently purchased 4 pairs of subject turnouts.   I was surprised when I went to install them that you cannot connect track to the ends of the turnout as the roadbed on the track gets in the way between the switch area and does not allow a complete connection of the track.    I took a short straight piece and cut out part of the roadbed so the tracks could be joined properly

Why they didn't extend the switch track out a bit further to alleviate this problem confuses me

Larry

Thanks Robert for the link.............am going to print and keep it for future reference.

Larry

I have quite a few Bachmann DCC switches...........6 crossover switches and 6 regular ones.    I recently had problems with one of the crossover switches and to no luck found out there is no one in the area that will repair them.................which I kind of figured out to begin with but thought I would try.   

I contacted Bachmann Service to see what I needed to doto send it back for repair and to my surprise they told me they don't repair their switches and my best bet would be to buy a new one.

It seems odd they don't repair switches ...........the crossovers are not that cheap.   Then again it seems we live more and more in a disposable society which is a shame.

Not being very mechanically minded I doubt if I can fix it.............was wondering if anyone out there knows of anyone who repairs Bachmann other than Backmann.    From what I have heard from my local hobby shops it is impossible to get any type of repair parts from Bachmann to begin with.


Larry

I also apply a base coat of paint.........generally a light beige and then brush Elmers white glue over the area............generally thinned a bit with water and sprinkle the loose grass over it smoothing it out abit.   After it has dried good............usually overnight, I come back and using a spray bottle with 2 parts water to 1 part elmers white glue, give the entire area a good wetting down...........making sure you don't hit any tracks or other areas that you don't want the glue to stick to.   Usually there is no loose covering to worry about. after that.

For small areas like apply ballast to road bed between the ties I put the ballast down and using a flat dry soft brush brush away the excess from on the ties leaving the ballast between the ties only.    Then following it with a eye dropper using the water downed glue or you can spray andthen with a damp sponge wipe off the rails.  After that you can use a track cleaning eraser to run over the rails to finish it off.




Larry

Thanks Jim for the info.............I figured on going with the no. 5 switch for a better and easier turn.   

From what I can tell in the pics of the bachmann no 5, it appears that a control unit is included with the switch.  So I shoul d be able to connect the wiring for the switch to a spare transformer with a accessorie outlet of 12 to 16 v ac ( have a couple of these) and just connect the switch into my regular DCC line and be all set.

I know I can double up on switches on the EZ Command............I currently have 9 installed right now and programmed in, but decided to go with the regular switches for the yard..............being a bit more lower in price and really hate to double up switches on the same address.

Larry